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Imagine being able to use your Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator synths with any app as part of Ableton Link! Well, with this Max patch and a simple $2 bluetooth USB interface.

If you're a regular reader of AskAudio you'll know what the pocket synths from Teenage Engineering are and how addictive we think they can be. For everyone else, the pocket operators are a range of small digital synths. Each synth has its own specific sonic focus or rhythmic focus and the latest one has an innovative way to communicate with other POs or with a plug-in synth on your computer.

NOTE: This Max Patch Traick SHOULD Work With Korg Volcas too!

But, one limitation of the Pocket Operators is the lack of MIDI. This makes it not very practical to integrate into your studio setup or your DAW. At least that was until now.

Little Scale have created a Max patch that connects to an Ableton Link network, and generates audio pulses suitable for a Teenage Engineering Pocket Operator PO-12 or other similar sync scenarios. The other important piece of this puzzle is a $2 USB audio interface. Yup, that's not a typo. It's $2. You'll need to download Cycling 74's Max (you can run it in demo mode). The full instructions are on the Little Scale website. But basically, the Pocket Operator will be sending pulses to and receiving them from the bluetooth interface.

Once you're connected to Ableton Link, your Pockect Operator can be synced with Ableton Live, Propellerhead Reason, NI Traktor, NI Maschine, and more iOS apps than you can shake a stick at.

Try it with your Korg volcas... you know you want them to sync up via Ableton Link!

The company says that this Max patch trick should work with Korg volcas & monotrons as they operate at the same pulse rate, but they haven't had the opportunity or gear to test it out. If you have a volca or monotron to hand and happen to try it out do let us know if it works.

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Rounik Sethi

Rounik is the Executive Editor for Ask.Audio & macProVideo. He's built a crack team of professional musicians and writers to create one of the most visited online resources for news, review, tutorials and interviews for modern musician and producer.
As an Apple Certified Trainer for Logic Pro Rounik has taught teachers, professional... Read More